Study on Glucose Biofuel Cells Using an Electrochemical Noise Device

An electrochemical noise (ECN) device was utilized for the first time to study and characterize a glucose/O₂ membraneless biofuel cell (BFC) and a monopolar glucose BFC. In the glucose/O₂ membraneless BFC, ferrocene (Fc) and glucose oxidase (GOD) were immobilized on a multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/Au electrode with a gelatin film at the anode; and laccase (Lac) and an electron mediator, 2,2′‐azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonate) diammonium salt (ABTS), were immobilized on a MWCNTs/Au electrode with polypyrrole at the cathode. This BFC was performed in a stirred acetate buffer solution (pH 5.0) containing 40 mmol/L glucose in air, with a maximum power density of 8 μW/cm², an open‐circuit cell voltage of 0.29 V, and a short‐circuit current density of 85 μA/cm², respectively. The cell current at the load of 100 kΩ retained 78.9% of the initial value after continuous discharging for 15 h in a stirred acetate buffer solution (pH 5.0) containing 40 mmol/L glucose in air. The performance decrease of the BFC resulted mainly from the leakage of the ABTS mediator immobilized at the cathode, as revealed by the two‐channel quartz crystal microbalance technique. In addition, a monopolar glucose BFC was performed with the same anode as that in the glucose/O₂ membraneless BFC in a stirred phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) containing 40 mmol/L glucose, and a carbon cathode in Nafion‐membrane‐isolated acidic KMnO₄, with a maximum power density of 115 μW/cm², an open‐circuit cell voltage of 1.24 V, and a short‐circuit current density of 202 μA/cm², respectively, which are superior to those of the glucose/O₂ membraneless BFC. A modification of the anode with MWCNTs for the monopolar glucose BFC increased the maximum power density by a factor of 1.8. The ECN device is highly recommended as a convenient, real‐time and sensitive technique for BFC studies.     

Preparation of Close‐Packed Silver Nanoparticles on Graphene to Improve the Enzyme Immobilization and Electron Transfer at Electrode in Glucose/O2 Biofuel Cell

In this study, chemical reduced graphene‐silver nanoparticles hybrid (AgNPs @CR‐GO ) with close‐packed AgNPs structure was used as a conductive matrix to adsorb enzyme and facilitate the electron transfer between immobilized enzyme and electrode. A facile route to prepare AgNPs @CR‐GO was designed involving in β ‐cyclodextrin (β ‐CD ) as reducing and stabilizing agent. The morphologies of AgNPs were regulated and controlled by various experimental factors. To fabricate the bioelectrode, AgNPs @CR‐GO was modified on glassy carbon electrode followed by immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx ) or laccase. It was demonstrated by electrochemical testing that the electrode with close‐packed AgNPs provided high GOx loading (Γ =4.80 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol•cm⁻²) and fast electron transfer rate (k _s=5.76 s⁻¹). By employing GOx based‐electrode as anode and laccase based‐electrode as cathode, the assembled enzymatic biofuel cell exhibited a maximum power density of 77.437 μW •cm⁻² and an open‐circuit voltage of 0.705 V.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Glucose Oxidase on Nail‐like Carbon and Its Biosensing for Glucose

Nail‐like carbon (NLC) was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. It was the first time that a novel electrochemical biosensing of glucose was explored based on the glucose oxidase (GOx)‐NLC‐chitosan (CHIT) glassy carbon electrode. Morphology and structure of NLC were characterized by scanning electron microscope; meanwhile the chemical composition was determined by X‐ray diffraction and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The cyclic voltammetry of immobilized GOx showed a pair of quasireversible redox peaks with the formal potential (E°′) of ?0.458 V and the peak‐to‐peak potential separation was 47 mV at a scan rate of 100 mV s^?1. The present biosensor has a linear range of glucose from 0.02 to 1.84 mM (correlation coefficient of 0.9991) and detection limit of 0.01 mM (S/N=3). Compared with the previous reports based on the carbon material biosensor, it has a high sensitivity of 165.5 μA mM^?1 cm^?2 and low apparent Michaelis–Menten constant of 0.506 mM. Thus, the NLC may have potential applications in the field of bioelectrochemistry, bioelectronics and biofuels.     

An Amperometric Glucose Biosensor Based on Poly (Pyrrole‐2‐Carboxylic Acid)/Glucose Oxidase Biocomposite

A newly developed amperometric glucose biosensor based on graphite rod (GR) working electrode modified with biocomposite consisting of poly (pyrrole‐2‐carboxylic acid) (PCPy) particles and enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) was investigated. The PCPy particles were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization technique using H₂O₂ as initiator of polymerization reaction and modified covalently with the GOx (PCPy‐GOx) after activation of carboxyl groups located on the particles surface with a mixture of N‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐N′‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Then the PCPy‐GOx biocomposite was dispersed in a buffer solution containing a certain amount of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The resulting biocomposite suspension was adsorbed the on GR electrode surface with subsequent solvent airing and chemical cross‐linking of the proteins with glutaraldehyde vapour (GR/PCPy‐GOx). It was determined that the current response of the GR/PCPy‐GOx electrodes to glucose measured at +300 mV vs Cl reference electrode was influenced by the duration of the PCPy particles synthesis, pH of the GOx solution used for the PCPy particles modification and the amount of immobilized PCPy‐GOx biocomposite. An optimal pH of buffer solution for operation of the biosensor was found to be 8.0. Detection limit was determined as 0.039 mmol L⁻¹ according signal to noise ratio (S/N: 3). The proposed glucose biosensor was tested in human serum samples.     

Oxygen transport through laccase biocathodes for a membrane-less glucose/O2 biofuel cell

The present study reports the development of operational membrane-less glucose/O₂ biofuel cell based on oxygen contactor. Glucose oxidation was performed by glucose oxidase (GOx) co-immobilized with the mediator 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid hydrate (HQS) at the anode, whereas oxygen was reduced by laccase co-immobilized with 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) diammonium salt (ABTS²⁻) at the cathode. Both enzymes and mediators were immobilized within electropolymerized polypyrrole polymers.Nevertheless, this system is limited by the secondary reaction of O₂ electro-reduction at the anode that reduces the electron flow through the anode and thus the output voltage. In order to avoid the loss of current at the anode in glucose/O₂ biofuel cell, we developed a strategy to supply dissolved oxygen separate from the electrolyte. Porous carbon tubes were used as electrodes and modified on the external surface by the couple enzyme/mediator. The inside of the cathode tube was continuously supplied with saturated dioxygen solution diffusing from the inner to the external surface of the porous tube. The assembled biofuel cell was studied under nitrogen at 37 °C in phosphate buffer at pH 5.0 and 7.0. The maximum power density reached 27 μW cm⁻² at a cell voltage of 0.25 V at pH 5.0 with 10 mM glucose. The power density was twice as high as compared to the same system with oxygen bubbling directly in the cell.     

Enhanced Microchip Electrophoresis of Neurotransmitters on Glucose Oxidase Modified Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Microfluidic Devices

In this paper, glucose oxidase (GOx) was employed to construct a functional film on the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic channel surface and apply to perform electrophoresis coupled with in‐channel electrochemical detection. The film was formed by sequentially immobilizing poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and GOx to the microfluidic channel surface via layer‐by‐layer (LBL) assembly. A group of neurotransmitters (5‐hydroxytryptamine, 5‐HT; dopamine, DA; epinephrine, EP; dobuamine, DBA) as a group of separation model was used to evaluate the effect of the functional PDMS microfluidic devices. Electroosmotic flow (EOF) in the modified PDMS microchannel was well suppressed compared with that in the native one. Experimental conditions were optimized in detail. As expected, these analytes were efficiently separated within 110 s in a 3.7 cm long separation channel and successfully detected at a single carbon fiber electrode. Good performances were attributed to the decreased EOF and the interactions of analytes with the immobilized GOx on the PDMS surface. The theoretical plate numbers were 2.19×10⁵, 1.89×10⁵, 1.76×10⁵, and 1.51×10⁵ N/m at the separation voltage of 1000 V with the detection limits of 1.6, 2.0, 2.5 and 6.8 μM (S/N=3) for DA, 5‐HT, EP and DBA, respectively. In addition, the modified PDMS channels had long‐term stability and excellent reproducibility.     

Concentric glucose/O2 biofuel cell

A concentric glucose/O₂ biofuel cell has been developed. The device is constituted of two carbon tubular electrodes, one in the other, and combines glucose electrooxidation at the anode and oxygen electroreduction at the cathode. The anodic catalyst is glucose oxidase co-immobilized with the mediator 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid hydrate, and the cathodic catalyst is bilirubin oxidase co-immobilized with the mediator 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) diammonium salt. Both enzymes and mediators are entrapped at the surface of the tubular electrodes by an electrogenerated polypyrrole polymer. The originality of the concentric configuration is to compartmentalize the anode and cathode electrodes and to supply dissolved oxygen separate from the electrolyte in order to avoid secondary reactions. The dissolved oxygen circulates through the inside of the cathode tube and diffuses from the inner to the external surface of the tube to react directly with the immobilized bilirubin oxidase. The assembled biofuel cell is studied at 37 °C in phosphate buffer pH 7.4. We show the influence of the thickness of the polypyrrole polymer on the electrochemical activity of the biocathodes. We also demonstrate the effect of the chemical reticulation of the enzymes by glutaraldehyde within the polymer on the performances of the bioelectrodes. The maximum power density delivered by the assembled glucose/O₂ biofuel cell reaches 42 μW cm⁻², evaluated from the geometric area of the electrodes, at a cell voltage of 0.30 V with 10 mM glucose. The results demonstrate that the concentric design of the BFC based on compartmented electrodes is a promising architecture for further development of micro electronic devices.     

Composite Material Based on Macroporous Polyaniline and Osmium Redox Complex for Biosensor Development

Here the feasibility of layers based on the conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) as component of glucose biosensors using glucose oxidase (GOx) as enzyme and [Os(bpy)₂(4‐aminomethylpyridine)Cl]PF₆ (OsCmplx) as electrochemical mediator, is evaluated. Particularly, PANI was employed to obtain a nanostructured macroporous material (m‐PANI) around polystyrene nanoparticles taken as template and the mediator was co‐immobilized during the polymerizing procedure. The GOx biosensor based on OsCmplx modified m‐PANI provides a linear response to glucose concentration in the range 5 up to 65 mM with a sensitivity of 3.54 µA/mM/cm² (on a projected geometric area=0.07 cm²), an LOD of 0.8 mM and a good precision (%RSD≤7, n=5); the biosensor is stable showing a decrease of 10% to the value of the sensitivity after 15 days of use and of about 50% after 40 days.     

Wireless Information Transmission System Powered by an Abiotic Biofuel Cell Implanted in an Orange

An “abiotic” biofuel cell composed of catalytic electrodes modified with inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) deposited on carbon black (CB) was used to activate a wireless information transmission system. The cathode and anode were made of carbon paper modified with Pt‐NPs/CB and buckypaper modified with Au₈₀Pt₂₀‐NPs/CB, respectively. The cathode/anode pair was implanted in orange pulp extracting power from its content (glucose and fructose in the juice). The open circuit voltage, V_oc, short circuit current density, j_sc, and maximum power produced by the biofuel cell, P_max, were found as 0.36 V, 1.3 mA cm^?2 and 182 µW, respectively. The voltage produced by the biofuel cell was amplified with an energy harvesting circuit and applied to a wireless transmitter. The present study continues the research line where different implantable biofuel cells are used for activation of electronic devices.     

Electrochemical Characteristics of Glucose Oxidase Adsorbed at Carbon Nanotubes Modified Electrode with Ionic Liquid as Binder

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs)‐modified electrode has been prepared by using ionic liquid (IL) as the binder. The as‐prepared CNTs‐IL composite modified electrode has good biocompatibility and is a suitable matrix to immobilize biomolecules. Glucose oxidase (GOx), containing flavin adenine dinucleotide as active site, stably adsorbed on modified electrode surface has resulted in the direct electron transfer. The electron transfer rate of 9.08 s^?1 obtained is much higher than that of GOx adsorbed on the CNTs papers (1.7 s^?1), and the process is more reversible with small redox peak separation of 23 mV. This may be due to the synergetic promotion of CNTs and IL to electron transfer of the protein, especially the IL as the binder, showing better electrochemical properties than that of chitosan and Nafion. Furthermore, GOx adsorbed at the modified electrode exhibits good stability and keeps good electrocatalytic activity to glucose with broad linear range up to 20 mM. Besides, the simple preparation procedure and easy renewability make the system a basis to investigate the electron transfer kinetics and biocatalytic performance of GOx and provide a promising platform for the development of biosensors.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Glucose Oxidase at Reduced Graphene Oxide and β‐Cyclodextrin Composite Modified Electrode and Application for Glucose Biosensing

A simple glucose biosensor has been developed based on direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilized on the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and β‐cyclodextrin (CD) composite. A well‐defined redox couple of GOx appears with a formal potential of ～?0.459 V at RGO/CD composite. A heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (K_s) has been calculated for GOx at RGO/CD as 3.8 s^?1. The fabricated biosensor displays a wide response to glucose in the linear concentrations range from 50 µM to 3.0 mM. The sensitivity and limit of detection of the biosensor is estimated as 59.74 µA mM^?1 cm^?2 and 12 µM, respectively.     

Glucose Microbiosensor Based on MnO2 and Glucose Oxidase Modified Carbon Fiber Microelectrode

A glucose microbiosensor has been developed using electrochemical codeposition of glucose oxidase (GOx) along with MnO₂ as mediator, onto a single carbon fiber microelectrode. A two‐step deposition of only MnO₂ initially and then of MnO₂ in the presence of GOx has been introduced to ensure appropriate activity of the mediator. Several parameters such as deposition potential and time, concentration levels etc. have been characterized and optimized. A thin Nafion film was applied as an immobilization/encapsulation and interference‐free protective layer. The proposed microbiosensor was employed as an amperometric glucose detector at pH 7.5 at an operating potential of +0.58 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The microbiosensor is characterized by a well‐reproducible amperometric response, linear signal‐to‐glucose concentration range from 1.5 mmol L^?1 to 15 mmol L^?1, and a limit of detection (S/N=3) of 0.8 mmol L^?1. The microbiosensor exhibits good stability over more than ten hours of continuous measurement.     

Performance Assessment of a Perfluorosulfonic Acid‐type Membrane (i. e. Nafion™ 115) for an Enzymatic Fuel Cell

A high power enzymatic fuel‐cell was anticipated by using a recently developed glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilized bio‐anode, a conventional platinum?carbon based cathode and a popular high performance 125 μ‐thick perfluorosulfonic acid‐type proton exchange membrane (i. e. Nafion® 115). Unexpected current density decay from 2.13 mA cm^?2 to 0.28 mA cm^?2 was observed within 2 hours. Polarization measurements and AC impedance analysis indicated that loss of performance was linked to the membrane behavior. Ion exchange between buffer solution and membrane was perceived as the main cause for the fast performance loss. Saturation of the membrane with the cation in the buffer solution diminished proton transfer needed for cathode reaction. Charge transfer resistances, obtained from AC impedance data, increased with time substantially due to cation exchange within membrane. Replacement of membrane with the same enzyme electrode and cathode has resulted 100 % current density recovery on the fuel cell performance. It was concluded that a membrane, not affected by the buffer cations, was required for successful enzymatic fuel cell applications.     

Evaluation of Enzymatic Kinetics of GOx‐based Electrodes by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy at Redox Competition Mode

Glucose oxidase (GOx) is an enzyme, which is used for the development of enzymatic biofuel cells. Therefore in this research redox competition mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (RC‐SECM) was applied for the investigation of glucose oxidase (GOx) catalyzed reaction kinetics. The GOx was immobilized by glutaraldehyde on substrates of different electrical conductivity: (i) gold covered glass was used as conducting substrate and (ii) plastic poly(methyl methacrylate) was used as non‐conducting substrate. Current vs distance dependencies were registered by SECM at different concentrations of glucose in the absence of redox mediator. The potential of −750 mV vs Ag/AgCl(3 M KCl) was applied to the microelectrode (ME), which was used as a probe in SECM, in order to register oxygen reduction current. Consumption of oxygen by the GOx based layer was evaluated according to principles determined by Michaelis‐Menten kinetics. Apparent Michaelis constants K _{M (app.)} were calculated from the dependencies of current vs glucose concentration. In both these cases the K _{M (app.)} value increased when the distance between ME and enzyme modified surface was increasing from 10 to 30 μm, while the K _{M (app.)} value decreased by increasing the distance from 30 to 60 μm.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Glucose Oxidase Immobilized at a Novel Composite Material β‐Cyclodextrin/poly(4‐aminothiophenol)/Au Nanoparticle Modified Electrode

A novel complex material was fabricated by three steps. In the first step, gold nanoparticle (Au_nano) was prepared with the method of chemistry and dialysis. In the second step, 4‐aminothiophenol (AT) was encapsulated in the cavity of β‐cyclodextrin and formed inclusion complex, cyclodextrin/4‐aminothiophenol (CD/AT). And then inclusion complex was adsorbed to the surface of Au_nano based on the bond of Au‐S interaction. In the last step, a complex material, cyclodextrin/poly(4‐aminothiophenol)‐Au nanoparticles (CD/PAT‐Au_nano) was obtained by the polymerizing in the acid solution initiated by chlorauric acid. The CD/PAT‐Au_nano has spherical nanostructure with the average diameter of 55 nm. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was anchored with this complex material and direct electrochemistry of GOx was achieved. A couple of stable and well‐defined redox peaks were observed with the formal potential (E^0′) of ‐0.488 V (vs. SCE) in a pH 6.98 buffer solution. The GOx modified electrode also exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of glucose, a linearity range for determination of glucose is from 0.25 mM to 16.0 mM with a detection limit of 0.09 mM (S/N = 3). This protocol had potential application to fabricate the third‐generation biosensor.     

Amperometric Glucose Biosensor Based on Electrochemically Deposited Gold Nanoparticles Covered by Polypyrrole

Graphite rod (GR) modified with electrochemicaly deposited gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and adsorbed glucose oxidase (GOx) was used in amperometric glucose biosensor design. Enzymatic formation of polypyrrole (Ppy) on the surface of GOx/AuNPs/GR electrode was applied in order to improve analytical characteristics and stability of developed biosensor. The linear glucose detection range for Ppy/GOx/AuNPs/GR electrode was dependent on the duration of Ppy‐layer formation and the linear interval was extended up to 19.9 mmol L⁻¹ after 21 h lasting synthesis of Ppy. The sensitivity of the developed biosensor was determined as 21.7 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻², the limit of detection – 0.20 mmol L⁻¹. Ppy/GOx/AuNPs/GR electrodes demonstrated advanced good stability (the t _1/2 was 9.8 days), quick detection of glucose (within 5 s) in the wide linear interval. Additionally, formed Ppy layer decreased the influence of electroactive species on the analytical signal. Developed biosensor is suitable for the determination of glucose in human serum samples.     

Biofuel Cell Operating in Vivo in Rat

Biocatalytic electrodes made of buckypaper were modified with PQQ‐dependent glucose dehydrogenase on the anode and with laccase on the cathode. The enzyme modified electrodes were assembled in a biofuel cell which was first characterized in human serum solution and then the electrodes were placed onto exposed rat cremaster tissue. Glucose and oxygen dissolved in blood were used as the fuel and oxidizer, respectively, for the implanted biofuel cell operation. The steady‐state open circuitry voltage of 140±30 mV and short circuitry current of 10±3 µA (current density ca. 5 µA cm^?2 based on the geometrical electrode area of 2 cm²) were achieved in the in vivo operating biofuel cell. Future applications of implanted biofuel cells for powering of biomedical and sensor devices are discussed.     

Guanine/Ionic Liquid Derived Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Decorated with AuNPs as Efficient NADH Biosensor and Suitable Platform for Enzymes Immobilization and Biofuel Cell Design

Guanine‐ionic liquid derived ordered mesoporous carbon (GIOMC) decorated with gold nanoparticles was used as electrocatalyste for NADH oxidation and electrochemical platform for immobilization of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) enzyme. The resulting GIOMC/AuNPs on the glassy carbon electrode can be used as novel redox‐mediator free for NADH sensing and this integrated system (GIOMC/AuNPs/GDH) shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation. Furthermore, the ionic liquid derived ordered mesoporous carbon derivate with Ph‐SO₃H (IOMC‐PhSO₃H) decorated with AuNPs has been developed to bilirubin oxidase enzyme (BOD) immobilization and the GC/IOMC‐PhSO₃H/BOD integrated system shows excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction. The proposed mesostructured platforms decorated by AuNPs have been developed to enhance mass transfer and charge transfer from biocatalyst to electrode, leading these bioanode and biocathode used for biofuel cell assembly. Integration designed bioanode and biocathode yielding a membrane‐less glucose/O₂ biofuel cell with power density of 33 (mW.cm⁻²) at 257 mV. The open circuit voltage of this biofuel cell and maximum produced current density were 508 mV and 0.252 (mA.cm⁻²) respectively.     

Modification of polypyrrole nanowires array with platinum nanoparticles and glucose oxidase for fabrication of a novel glucose biosensor

A novel glucose biosensor, based on the modification of well-aligned polypyrrole nanowires array (PPyNWA) with Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) and subsequent surface adsorption of glucose oxidase (GOx), is described. The distinct differences in the electrochemical properties of PPyNWA–GOx, PPyNWA–PtNPs, and PPyNWA–PtNPs–GOx electrodes were revealed by cyclic voltammetry. In particular, the results obtained for PPyNWA–PtNPs–GOx biosensor showed evidence of direct electron transfer due mainly to modification with PtNPs. Optimum fabrication of the PPyNWA–PtNPs–GOx biosensor for both potentiometric and amperometric detection of glucose were achieved with 0.2 M pyrrole, applied current density of 0.1 mA cm⁻², polymerization time of 600 s, cyclic deposition of PtNPs from −200 mV to 200 mV, scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹, and 20 cycles. A sensitivity of 40.5 mV/decade and a linear range of 10 μM to 1000 μM (R² = 0.9936) were achieved for potentiometric detection, while for amperometric detection a sensitivity of 34.7 μA cm⁻² mM⁻¹ at an applied potential of 700 mV and a linear range of 0.1–9 mM (R² = 0.9977) were achieved. In terms of achievable detection limit, potentiometric detection achieved 5.6 μM of glucose, while amperometric detection achieved 27.7 μM.     

Electrochemical Activity Studies of Glucose Oxidase (GOx)‐Based and Pyranose Oxidase (POx)‐Based Electrodes in Mesoporous Carbon: Toward Biosensor and Biofuel Cell Applications

A simple study using a fixed amount of mesoporous carbon (MSU‐F‐C) was performed for the comparison of pyranose oxidase (POx) and glucose oxidase (GOx) in their electrochemical performance under biosensor and biofuel cell operating modes. Even though the ratio of POx to GOx in the glucose oxidation activity per unit weight of MSU‐F‐C was 0.35, the ratios of POx to GOx in sensitivity and power density were reversed to be 6.2 and 1.4, respectively. POx with broad substrate specificity and an option of large scale production using recombinant E. coli has a great potential for various electrochemical applications, including biofuel cells.